Page 21 of His Country
Besides, Frank’s was too big for Isaac. The old heavy roping saddle would probably break his thin arms as he tried to heft it. Carol had one from her rodeo days, but the thing had so much silver on it they could see it from space.
A big winter storm was forecasted. Heavy snow and icy wind for days. Trees would definitely come down, and they wanted to check the fence lines before the thing hit. Clearing debris from the fences might save them some effort later. Aiden didn’t technically need a second set of hands; it would just make it faster.
“I can go.”
They turned to see Ethan leaning against the stall, using his fingers to tickle Eagles muzzle. He was chewing on something, foam coating his twitching lips. Ethan had bribed the persnickety gelding.
“Don’t you have work?”
Ethan shrugged. “Just so happens my schedule is clear.”
Aiden knew that was a lie. The great Dr. Landry was pulling in more clients than he could take.
“You got a saddle?”
“Yep.”
“You got a horse?”
“Sure do.”
Aiden raised an eyebrow. “Know how to fix a fence?”
He shrugged. “I’m a quick study.”
Isaac smiled, eyebrows lifting. He wanted to stay with the damned goats anyway. Apparently one of his favorites was battling a pretty severe case of mastitis and he had his knickers in a twist over it.
That’s how he ended up riding into the hills with Ethan. Family friend privileges apparently extended to horses because Ethan was astride Franks pretty grey mare. A heavyset girl, she dwarfed Eagle as they rode side by side up into the hills.
Sugar darted between their feet, skittering away from stomping hooves and swishing tails. Occasionally she’d streak off into the brush, hunting for something to play with. She got just as cooped up on the farm as Aiden did. Dead leaves crunched under her feet. Branches cracked and snapped as she pushed her way through, ears twitching at every sound.
Dew dripped off the branches. Under the canopy they were shielded from the sun, and it was cooler in the shade. Speckles of sunlight flickered through gaps in the tree cover. Shafts of light illuminating the forest floor. Little spots of warmth and light. Moss was already beginning to brown, dying out as the incoming snows and frost of winter curled its icy fingers over the land.
Ethan was a good rider. Loose hipped and relaxed, his long legs bumping up against the sides of his mare. Hands resting over the swell of the saddle, split reins loosely grasped between his fingers. Back straight, heels down, he looked like he was born for the saddle. His hair was slicked back from his face from the wind. Occasionally laughing when he caught sight of Sugar’s antics.
Aiden watched him ride. Hips undulating with the mare’s movements, fingers occasionally sliding under her mane toscratch at the crest of her neck. Rarely did he give her direction, choosing to let the big girl pick her own way over brambles and loose stone. She snorted under his scratches, ears flopping as she shook her head contentedly.
He wasn’t really dressed for camping out. His denim jacket was worn in places, wiry threads twisted out of the thick material where buttons should be. Aiden wondered where they’d fallen off. The boots he wore were just his work boots, waterproof but hardly insulated. Clearly, he hadn’t been planning on going up into the hills. Aiden couldn’t help but wonder why he was here at all.
Eagle spent the first twenty minutes pinning his ears at Frank’s mare. Making surly little faces in an attempt to distance himself. The mare was unimpressed and her disinterest irritated Eagle. He started drifting closer, ears still pinned even as he bumped Aiden’s leg up against Ethan’s.
“What a lousy flirt,” Ethan laughed.
Aiden stroked the little gelding’s neck. “He’s doing his best.”
Apparently, Ethan found Aiden’s defense of his gelding to be the funniest thing he’d ever seen, his laugh echoing around the hills. The sound was infectious, and Aiden found himself joining. Not the little huff of air, a snort to indicate something was slightly less than completely unbearable, no, a real laugh. The kind that bubbles up from your belly and rumbles through your chest. Like an earthquake rattling his core, he doubled over and felt his cheeks ache with disuse. The cobwebs in his empty chest shook loose and he felt something growing. He wasn’t sure what it was, but even when the laughter stopped, he felt the ache in his cheeks continue.
It wasn’t until he finally caught his breath that he noticed Ethan wasn’t laughing with him. He was watching him, his lips floating in this strange little half smile. Like his face was caught between emotions.
Aiden lifted his hands to his face, the light feeling from moments ago replaced with the weight of self-consciousness.
“No, don’t.” Ethan reached between them, snagging Aiden’s wrist to pull it from his face. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to stare it’s just…I didn’t know your face could do that.”
Aiden’s eyebrows drew together. “Do what?”
“Anything besides scowl.” Ethan’s eyes crinkled with renewed laughter, dodging Aiden’s smack. He softened the reins and kicked the mare into a canter, running from Aiden’s cursing.
Eagle took the challenge to heart, picking up speed to catch up. Ethan took one look over his shoulder before leaning forward, urging his horse faster up the little trail they’d been following. Aiden knew it well, and he let Eagle have his head.